Who is the Current Education Minister of India?

Our Indian constitution specifically gives the right to education to every citizen of the country, making it your fundamental right. So yes, no one can take it away from you. The state must provide free and quality education to all children aged 6 to 14 years. Educational infrastructure is the pillar of a country’s socioeconomic development. In the voyage of nation-building, the Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India, aims to prepare strong minds with the light of education. The education minister heads the MoE, a cabinet minister belonging to the ruling political party.

The Union education minister plays a critical role in planning and overseeing the population’s educational needs as a representative head. The President of India elects the education minister on the suggestion of the Prime Minister. Every 5 years, the education minister is changed as per the results of the Lok Sabha elections. Currently, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is the education minister of India. This blog takes a deeper look into the life and achievements of the Hon’ble Minister. Moreover, it shall also cover his work to make education accessible and convenient for all.

About Hon’ble Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Current Education Minister of India

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan hails from the Talcher region in Odisha. He was born on June 26, 1969, in the family of former Bhartiya Janta Party MP, Dr Debendra Pradhan. His political interest and leadership qualities were visible from his early college days only. In the forthcoming days, he served as the ABVP Secretary.

In 1998, he followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the BJP. Subsequently, he was elected as a Rajya Sabha member for two terms. Working for the party ever since, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Minister for Education, again took charge of the office on 13th June 2024. He represents the Sambalpur seat in the Lok Sabha as a Member of Parliament. In addition to this, he is also the Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship for the Government of India.

Transforming India One Scheme at a Time: Launched Programmes

Let’s take a look at the schemes/programmes launched by the current education minister for the upliftment of society as a whole:

NPST and NMM Programmes

In March 2024, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launched various school and teacher education initiatives. He launched the National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) and National Mission for Mentoring (NMM) programmes. He also launched printed books on NMM and NPST, guidelines and videos of SCERTs/DIETs, a video of Vidya Samiksha Kendra, 200 TV channels, and 52 primers in the Indian language. (DIETs represent 613 District Institutes of Education and Training.)

Swayam Plus Platform

In February 2024, the Union Education Minister launched the new SWAYAM Plus platform. The platform offers professional development and employability-focused programmes for working professionals and higher education students.

ODISERV

The minister launched the project ODISERV in the Sambalpur area. It aims to train young graduates for employment opportunities in the financial services area. This 100-hour training programme would equip you with skills essential for banking, finance, and insurance. Under the project ODISERV, over 1100 students have already been trained, and some have also received job offers.

Implementing NEP 2020

The Hon’ble minister is key in implementing the National Education Policy, 2020. From implementation to awareness, Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan has been committed to creating a skilled and workforce-ready India.

Also read: New Education Policy: Purpose, Features, Implementation

An Overview of the Ministry of Education 

The Ministry of Education was created on 26th September 1985 by the 174th amendment to the Government of India Rules, 1961. Earlier, it was known as the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD). However, the Union Cabinet changed the name on July 29 to Ministry of Education to clearly define the ministry’s focus. The Ministry of Education has two sub-departments that cater to different grades of the Indian education system. Both these departments have distinct roles and functions.

• ☑
  Department of School Education and Literacy: Schemes and programmes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Nationwide Elementary Education and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, among others, fall under the Department of School Education and Literacy umbrella.
• ☑
  Department of Higher Education: It is known as one of the largest higher education systems of the world. The aim is to provide world-class research and learning opportunities for the students of India.

Discovering the Former Education Ministers of India

Here is the list of education ministers who have assumed the role of Union Education Minister since independence:

Summing Up: A Final Sign-Off  

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan assumed office as the education minister of India for the second term. Throughout his political tenure, he has taken many initiatives to upgrade the quality of school and higher education. He has been dedicated to creating world-class opportunities for the youths of India. Moreover, he is taking initiatives to make education affordable and accessible for all. During his tenure, he has been dedicated to promoting digital education leading to ‘Viksit Bharat’. He aims to create an India on the same pedestal as other developed countries.